Stubble destroyers



April 26, 1955 F. B. LARSON STUBBLE DESTROYERS Filed Sept. 24, 1953 INVENTOR FRANZ, 15. LAR BY United States Patent STUBBLE DESTROYERS V Franz B. Larson, Memphis, Tenn. Application September 24, 1953, Serial No. 382,074 5 Claims. (Cl. 126-271.2)

This invention relates to a new primarily adapted for destroying the stubble such as that left surrounding lawns mizing the labor and effort necessary to effectuate the removal and destruction of such stubble.

As is well known, one of the primary problems of the contiguous to his home, and more particularly the problem is accentuated in connection with the areas immediately adjacent surfaces such as sidewalks variations in surfaces, frequently leaving an undesirable fringe or stubble adjaovercome in the present device. The principal object of the provide a stubble destroying device areas desiring treatment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide flame communication guard members.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable frame adapted for supporting a blow torch in addischarge to provide for sepanying drawings, in which:

ig. 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating the supported burner in one position of shift.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the device of Fig. l with the burner device shifted to an opposite position of angularity.

2,706,978 Patented Apr. 26, 1955 position of Fig. 1 and illustrating a further modification and adaption of the device; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the supporting frame and carriage of the present invention with the burner device emoved and including the additional modification of Referring now to the drawings that the present invention primarily consists consisting in the preferred embodiment of a substantially conventional blow torch which is Means for engaging and holding the blow torch 11 are provided in a cradle 25, preferably consisting of a girth strap 27 and a saddle strap 29. The cradle 25 is rockably and shiftably connected to ment as desired.

It is each be provided with a and consequently thereby position of cradle 25 relative to the frame work.

Saddle strap 29 is detachably and adjustably connected when engaged by the cradle, of blow torch 11, may be clamping of the blow torch body between the saddle strap established through a selection of desired apertures 35 29 and the girth strap 27.

of the frame work and the engagement therethrough of With the blow torch ignited and ready for operation bolts 32 engaging the end portions 31 of the girth strap. the cradle may be rocked about its pivotal connections Rigidly secured to the frame work 15 and depending 5 to the frame work through the bolts 32 to a desired positherefrom are a pair of flame directional tubes 41 which tion of angularity relative to one of the directional tubes are preferably provided with suitable perforations so as 41. Preferably the saddle strap 29 is slightly loosened to provide oxygen for combustion to the flame to prevent to permit a rotation of the blow torch relative to the cradle snufiing thereof. The tubes 41 are positioned so as to 25 so as to move the end of directional jet 13 into alinelaterally flare outwardly from the sides of frame work 15 ment with a selected directional tube 41. It will be 0bas clearly shown in the drawings and in addition are posiserved that by virtue of the positioning of the tubes 41 tioned so as to extend downwardly and forwardly as well just below the lower level of the frame work an air as outwardly from their upper ends. The tubes 41 are space, desirable for proper combustion, is maintained illustrated as rigidly connected to the frame work by suitbetween the end of jet 13 and the upper end of the tube able bracket means 43, but it will be understood that 15 41 selected. When the positioning of the blow torch as other means of rigidly connecting the tubes 41 in the desired has been accomplished, the bolts and nuts 39 may desired positions of angularity relative to the frame work be again tightened to clamp the blow torch body in the may be employed if desired. cradle and with the bolts and nuts 32, 33 completely It will be observed that the upper ends of the tubes 41 tightened to maintain the cradle in rocked position relaare preferably spaced slightly below the lower edge of the 2 tive to the frame work 15, the device is ready for operaframe work 15 and that the lower ends of the tubes 41 tion.

are spaced above the ground level contacted by the ground With the blow torch ignited flame is ejected from wheels 19. Rigidly fixed to the tubes 41 adjacent the the jet 13 through a selected tube 41 and is directed lower ends of the inner surfaces of the tubes are flame thereby downwardly against the outer surface of the shielding guard plates 45, the lower edges of guard plates guard plate 45 connected to the selected tube 41. The 45 being adapted to serve as supports and slides for the guard plate 45 is effective to prevent any burning of forward end of frame work 15, maintaining same in grass or other materials inwardly of the guard plate desired substantially horizontal position, contacting the and serves to partially deflect the flame discharged ground 23 for such purpose. The guard plates 45 fl re through the selected tube 41 in the desired direction.

outwardly from the frame work and are disposed at an AS Illus ated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the device angle to the vertical substantially equal to the outward h y be then ahned ng i a Surface, Such as the flaring angularity of the tubes 41. However, it will be id walk 57 With a gu rd P a 45 s g 011 ground observed that the guard plates 45 do not project angularly 23 1h deslfed adjacency t0 the edge of Sidewalk forwardly in the same manner as to the tubes 41, The flame emitted from the selected tube 41 is directed It ill b seen h h guard plates 45 are connected toward any foliage or other substance above the level to the exterior of tubes 41 above the lower ejection end of the ground {111d between the guard Plate 45 and the of the tubes and accordingly serve to guard against any edge of the sldewalk The device y then he burning by the flames ejected through the tubes 41 inmeved along P Parallel to the edge 0t Sidewalk wardly of the guard plates, insuring that all such burning and efieetlve burnmg 0f th u desired stubble adih t k place outwardly h h acent such sidewalk satisfactorily accomplished.

In the embodiment of the invention as shown in Figs. AS IS pPe h 1t 15 Sometimes desirable h re th 4 and 5, the supporting frame work, heretofore described, sidewalk 57 is disposed in an area which is inaccessible is provided with an additional outrigged baffle for proto hhl'hlhg from 0I1e 0f the Other Side Of the device, viding an outer protection against the spread of flames as for example When In conjunction With 3 tel'faee, the

ejected from a selected tube 41. In this embodiment the h torch 11 y be rotationally Shifted y s frame work 15 is provided with a plurality of tube-like mg t Saddle strap 2 a rotating e l rch sockets 47 adapted to removably receive rod-like brackets th to Cradle 3 h g the burner to an pp 49, h b k 49 f bl each comprising an position of angularity in alinement with the other of verted, substantially J-shaped member in which the short the tubes 41 l f the J is adapted to be removably msel-ted in the 50 It is also desirable in areas, such as for example sockets 47 and the longer leg of the J extends downadiatfeht flower beds, to Provide for a Positive Outer wardly below the level of the frame work 15, with the bafihhg agalhst the Outward extent of the flames web of the J-brackets 49 extending substantially horirecited through a Selected tube For the P p zontally laterally outwardly from the frame work 15. the (hugger bathe 51 may he mounted in the Sockets Removabjy Secured to the downwardly extending outer 55 47, positioned outwardly of the selected tube 41 and legs of the brackets 49 is an outrigger baffle 51 which is from the related guard Plate P w" preferably provided with the tube-like attachment mem- The h Y theh he Poslhohed Wlth hers 53, preferably provided with clamp screws 55, the the oumgger baffle. ndmg mwardly of a flower attachment members 53 being adapted to slidably emsuch as one comammg flowers h the flames brace legs of brackets 49, and when so positione to be 60 rected through the selected tube 41 will effectively burn fixed in desired position by the setting of clamp screws 55. Off the undeslred grass.and other stubble between the In the use of the device blow torch 11 is mounted in guard Plate 45 and Oumgger baffle. cradle 25. In order to properly position the blow torch be understood that Whlle the foregoing deit is desired that the longitudinal positioning thereof be Scnptlon has descnbed and Shown h as a blow adjusted until the directional jet 13 is in substantially torch .that other type? of bummg devlces may be the same plane to permit registry with a selected direcmomited the present.trame Work for the.PurP9seS tional tube 41, as Shown in Fig 1 for example Such described without departing from the present invention. longitudinal adjustment is accomplished by selecting a I clalm:

desired pair of opposite apertures 35 in the frame work In a device for destroymg undeslred Stubble by 15 and extending the cradle bolts 32 therethrough, fixing burning which includes bumc? .means, a frame a wing nuts 33 to the bolts and thus attaching the cradle to of flame dlmctlonal tubes ngldly connected Sald the frame work in desired longitudinal position. e adlacent t said tubes depenqing from If it is necessary after the blow torch has been mounted Sald frame and flanpg forwardly and opposlhdy in the cradle and it is not desired to remove the blow torch Wardly therefrom Wlth the upper ends of 531d tubes therefrom, the cradle 25 may be shifted to the position, Spaced below the level of the frame and the 't ends Such as Shown in Fig 3, in which the blow torch 11 of the tubes spaced above ground level, each said tube will be supported in substantially vertical position, in gg gg 53 13333? g f fifis sg g g {$3 which position it is most convenient to recharge the blow a cradle f Supporting said burner means Said cradl torch Wlth its necessary eomhhstleh elements and 1h being rockably and longitudinally adjustable relative to which position it is further more simple to ignite the comsaid frame to establish burner position relative to said bustion materials fo r flame e ection from the directional tubes, said cradle including a releasably connected sadet 13. In such position the blow torch is firmly clamped dle strap for clampingly engaging said burner means in the cradle 25 by the tightening of the saddle strap 29 when mounted in said cradle and being releasable for through tightening of the bolts and nuts 39, thus effecting flame alinement of said burner means with one of said tubes, said guard plates being positioned to shield the area of flame directional 3. In a device for destroying undesired stubble by burning, which includes burner means, a frame, a pair of flame directional tubes rigidly connected to said frame ends of said tubes from flames when delivered through said one tube.

ans depending from said frame into adground level,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

